Erin's Disney Facts

Erin's Disney Movie Favorites

What's your favorite Disney Animated Movie:PETER PAN! This is also my favorite children's book, and I have several illustrated versions, including a vintage 1957 Dandelion Library version that is printed double-sided with 'Alice in Wonderland' on the other side. Alice is probably my second favorite Disney movie.

What is your favorite Disney Movie Character: Tinkerbell! And of course Peter Pan. I love all things Tink. Except for the excessive use of pink and purple in Tinkerbell merchandise.

Disney Junior Favorites:When Madison was a baby, Charlie & Lola was still on the Disney channel, when the morning show was called Playhouse Disney. So much imagination and creativity went into this lovely little show. I think it really celebrated the wonder and whimsy of childhood. Since the show ended, I have bought all of the DVDs and have several of the books. I will introduce Charlie & Lola to my grandkids someday!

My modern Disney Junior favorite is Doc McStuffins.

First Disney movie ever owned: Cinderella, on VHS. I think I got it in the 2nd grade.

Favorite Disney Princess? That's tough. It's a tie between Ariel and Rapunzel. I've loved Ariel since 'The Little Mermaid' came out in 1989. I was 11 at the time. I really related to her tragically misunderstood hopeless romantic and slightly self-absorbed teenage self. Plus the music in TLM is just wonderful. Rapunzel is a modern favorite. I enjoy her quirky one-liners and the enthusiastic innocence about her exploring a world outside of her tower.

Erin's Favorites In The Parks

Favorite Disney Memory #1: On our first family trip to Disney, Charlotte was just turning 3. This is a great age to experience the parks for the first time, but sometimes lines and crowds can overwhelm kids. Charlotte was having a hard time being patient in a long bag-check line one morning when we were headed to Epcot. While we waited, Cast Member Luis put his hat on Charlotte's head and recruited her as an honorary Bag Check Cast Member. It was adorable. She mimicked everything he said and did, and said "You're good!" in her squeaky little voice after he checked a bag.

Thank you Luis for making a stressful part of our day easier, and making Charlotte feel special.

Favorite Disney Memory #2:

This memory is not about myself or my own kids. It's about to Marlee! <3

Marlee was our neighbor for many many years. Mr. MFB and I bought our first house when I was pregnant with Madison. Marlee lived next door and was just 6 years old at the time. We have watched Marlee grow up into a beautiful young lady, think of her as one of our own kids, and she has traveled with us to Disney twice.

On her first trip with us to Disney in 2012, Marlee was 11. My girls were 3 and (almost) 5. Marlee and I stayed at the Magic Kingdom for the Wishes nighttime spectacular, while Rob took the little girls back to the resort. The girls were tired, and neither enjoyed loud fireworks at that age. Watching Marlee experience Wishes for the first time was the most wonderful and magical experience. I had seen the show before, but I didn't tell her anything about it. I didn't tell her that the fireworks were going to be the best she's seen in her life, or that the music and castle projections would give her lots of feels ... OR that Tinkerbell was going to come flying from the castle. We were in the central hub in front of the castle, on the side closest to the bridge to Tomorrowland, so Tinkerbell flew right over our heads. I loved seeing Marlee's face light up with wonder and surprise.

This is what the Magic of Disney is about.

I love you, Marlee.

Favorite Disney park:Magic Kingdom! It is quintessentially DISNEY. Everything is so magical and really brings out the kid in everyone, and there is so much to experience in this park. There is nothing quite like crossing the Seven Seas Lagoon on the ferry boat and seeing the castle in the distance for the FIRST TIME.

Second Favorite Disney park: Animal Kingdom. I love the atmosphere and the animals and all of the different cultures celebrated in the theming of this park.

Favorite Character meet-n-greet: Tinkerbell, hand's down. She just has so much personality, and I've yet to encounter a Tinkerbell face character actor who hasn't done a wonderful job. Rapunzel is also usually very good, she stayed in character and really took time to interact with my two girls, even though the line was long!

Favorite 'slow ride' at WDW: Peter Pan's Flight. I have always loved this ride, and it's even better with the recent refurb of the queue line, although I usually get a FastPass. I'm also a big fan of Haunted Mansion.

Favorite 'fast ride' at WDW: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!

Honorable mention rides: Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios, SOARIN at Epcot, Test Track, and I love all of the roller coasters. No one will ride them with me, though. *sad face*

Favorite Disney Resort: So far, Art of Animation. My resort-stay list is short, only 5 resorts, all value or moderate, and so far AoA is my favorite. I love the theming, I love the family suites, the food was fantastic, and the 3 pools were each fun and unique for different reasons.

I have also stayed at Pop Century, All Star Movies, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Caribbean Beach. Of the 5 resorts I've stayed at so far, the only one I would choose not to return to is Caribbean Beach, simply because the resort is so large and there are long waits for buses to make a complete loop around the resort, no matter which part of the resort you are staying at.

Madison used her own money to buy the Rapunzel Animators doll. She spent a good 20 minutes brushing her hair before bed. True love! We were at Pop Century for this trip.[/caption]

Favorite thing to do in the parks when not on a ride: People watch. Highly entertaining. I like to wonder where people are from, and what their lives are like. Disney attracts so many different kinds of people. It's also really fun to see people reacting to the magic of Disney.

When lines are crazy long: The People Mover. The line for People Mover is rarely long, and it's such a relaxing ride. I could kick off my sandals on the People Mover and ride all day.

Animal Kingdom Favorites: Kilimanjaro Safari, Kali River Rapids, Finding Nemo show, and pause for some downtime at the Bone Yard playground. Due to not being able to get FastPasses and extremely long wait times, I've not ridden either of the Pandora rides yet. *sad face*

My Disney "Bucket List"

I think it's really challenging to experience everything that Disney has to offer. There is always something new being developed and changed, and there is just SO MUCH DISNEY. Here are things I haven't marked off my list yet: